More about Research Theme 1: Legitimacy Standards

The overarching concern is why and when an international court (IC) merits criticism and deference of various kinds. A full assessment of an IC’s legitimacy involves three aspects: its origins, function or procedural operation, and its performance or outcome and effects. For each of these three aspects, for each IC, there are complex relations between legality, moral justification, social acceptance and compliance. Some components are: normative justification, social support, legality, compliance, state consent, as well, as constitutional and public law standards.